Source: Andres Siimon / UnsplashRecent studies speak to a trend: Teens are using artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots as romantic partners and/or emotional supports (Ha and colleagues, 2026). Research finds that up to one in five adolescents report forming emotional or romantic bonds with AI companions. For example, a study published in the Journal of Adolescence found that 60 percent of U.S. teens have used AI chatbots, with more than 11 percent using them daily. A study conducted by Male Allies UK highlighted that roughly 20 percent of boys aged 12 to 16 know a peer who is “dating” an AI chatbot, and more than a quarter prefer AI companionship over real-life relationships. Why AI companionship can become problematicSocial offloading is an overreliance on nonhuman interactions and companionship; it’s also referred to as "relational displacement,” where people substitute AI interactions for human relationships.